How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Xiaomi via Bluetooth: A Complete Guide to Secrets

Transferring data between Xiaomi smartphones via Bluetooth seems like a simple task — until you face speed limits, compatibility or sudden errors. Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to turn on the module on both devices and click “Send”, but in practice the process requires preparation, especially if it is a large file or specific data like notes from Mi Notes.

In this article, we will not only discuss the basic steps, but also the hidden MIUI settings that speed up transfer by 2-3 times, bypass typical errors (for example, “The device does not support file sharing”), and show how to transfer data between models of different generations – from Redmi Note 8 Pro to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Preparation of devices: what to do before transfer

Before you start sharing, make sure both Xiaomi smartphones meet the minimum requirements. First, check the MIUI version: devices older than MIUI 12 may not have key features like Mi Share (similar to AirDrop). Second, clear the Bluetooth cache, which solves 70% of connection problems.

This can be done through the Settings menu. → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth → ⋮ (three-point) → We also recommend turning off the power saving mode, which limits the operation of wireless modules, POCO F5) Check the developer’s settings – sometimes there is a hidden Limit Bluetooth setting. A2DP Bitrate that needs to be turned off for stable transmission.

• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (relevant for devices older than 2020).
• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones – it resets temporary failures in the Bluetooth module.
• 🛡️ Turn it off. VPN Firewalls – they can block the exchange of data.
• 📶 Make sure there is no interference: other 2.4GHz devices (such as Wi-Fi routers) may slow down transmissions.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with a Mediatek chipset (e.g., Redmi) 12C) You may need to enable bidirectional transmission in Bluetooth settings. Without this, files will only be sent in one direction.

How to transfer data via Bluetooth: which to choose

There are three basic methods of data exchange over Bluetooth available in the Xiaomi ecosystem, and their effectiveness depends heavily on the type of files and device models:

1. The standard Bluetooth protocol (OBEX) works on all devices, but is limited to ~1 MB/s and file size (up to 50 MB on older firmware) suitable for contacts, small photos or text documents.
2. Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop) is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi that uses Bluetooth for initialization and Wi-Fi Direct for transmission. Up to 10 MB/s, supports folders and files up to 1 GB. Requires MIUI 12+.
3. Third-party apps (such as Send Anywhere or Feem) – bypass the limitations of MIUI, but may request unnecessary permissions.

For most users, Mi Share is optimal — it is built into the system and does not require installing additional programs. However, if you need to transfer, for example, a backup copy of Mi Cloud or an archive with Xiaomi Home settings, you should use Send Anywhere with encryption.

Step-by-step: Transmission over standard Bluetooth

If you’ve chosen the classic OBEX method, follow this instruction.It’s suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the budget Redmi A2 and the flagship Xiaomi 13T Pro:

1. Activate Bluetooth on both devices: swipe down the notification panel and hold the Bluetooth icon, or go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Make the devices visible: click Device Search and select the name of the second smartphone, and it will have a pairing request — confirm it.
3. Select files to transfer: open Files (or Photo Gallery), select the desired items and click Share → Bluetooth.
4. Accept files on the second device: a notification will appear with a suggestion to save data. Specify the folder (by default, Bluetooth in internal memory).

The main disadvantage of this method is that there is no progress bar.

• 🔋 Battery level (below 15%) the system can suspend background processes).
• 📶 Distance between devices (no more than 10 meters without obstacles).
• 📂 File size (if it exceeds 50MB, break it down with an archiver).

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 14 and newer standard Bluetooth can block transmission APK-To get around this, rename the file extension from.apk to.zip before sending it.

How to speed up transfer: hidden settings MIUI

Few people know, but Xiaomi has hidden options that allow you to increase the speed of data exchange over Bluetooth, for example, in MIUI 13/14 you can enable High-Speed Mode, which uses file compression on the fly.

1. Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to unlock the developer mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth audio codec option and select aptX HD (if available).
4. Activate Enable Bluetooth HCI Sniffer logs, which temporarily prioritizes Bluetooth connections.

Another trick is to change the class of the Bluetooth device. Xiaomi smartphones are defined as a “phone” by default, but if you change the class to a “computer” (via a “computer”). ADB-command, the transmission rate will increase by 20 to 30 percent:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_device_class 1536

Once you have completed the command, restart the device. You can return the standard settings by commanding:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_device_class 2097152

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If the transmission is permanently interrupted, try to turn off Wi-Fi on both devices, and in some cases, the simultaneous operation of two wireless modules creates interference.

Transfer of specific data: contacts, notes, settings

Not all data is equally well transmitted via Bluetooth, for example, contacts can be exported to a.vcf file and sent as a regular document, but with notes from Mi Notes or Xiaomi Home settings you will have to tinker.

Contacts

The most reliable way:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Select contacts and save the contacts.vcf file.
4. Send the file via Bluetooth and import it on the second device.

Notes from Mi Notes

Bluetooth won't help here, because the notes are tied to your Mi Account.

• 📤 Exports to PDF: open the note → ⋮ → Export.
• 🌐 Sync with Mi Cloud: Enable backup in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Notes.
• 📱 Screenshots: If the note is short, take a screenshot and send it as an image.

Xiaomi Home (Smart Home) Settings

The transfer of smart home devices between accounts is not officially supported, but there is a workaround:

1. On an older smartphone, open Xiaomi Home and export the configuration to a file (if available).
2. Send the file via Bluetooth.
3. On the new device, import it through Profile → Settings → Import devices.

⚠️ Note: When you move your Xiaomi Home settings, all devices will temporarily disconnect from the network. Make sure you have access to their physical buttons to re-pair.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even when you set it up properly, users are faced with errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting your network settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (this will not affect personal data).
3. After restarting, repeat pairing of devices.

Alternative methods: when Bluetooth is not suitable

If Bluetooth transmission is too slow or constantly crashes, consider alternatives:

• 📶 Mi Share (Wi-Fi Direct): 10 times faster than Bluetooth, but requires a new version of the device. MIUI 12+. How to turn on: Swipe down the notification panel → Hold on to Mi Share → Select the device for transmission.
• 🔌 USB-OTG cable: connect your smartphones directly (adapter required) USB-C to USB-C or micro-USB to USB-C). Speed up to 40MB/s.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: upload files to the cloud on one device and download them on the other. 5GB is free.
• 🌍 Local area network (FTP): use the app FX File Explorer to Create for You FTP-server on one smartphone and connect to it from the second.

For large amounts of data (such as a backup of Mi Backup), USB-OTG is optimal.

1. Connect. USB-cable to the first smartphone (it should be in the role of a host").
2. On the second device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Copy data through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager).

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For Xiaomi models with UFS 3.1 support (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra), USB-OTG transfer speeds can reach 80 MB/s – 80 times faster than Bluetooth!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions